Vehicle testing operations at authorised testing facilities (ATFs) could be disrupted tomorrow (20 November), after union Prospect confirmed many of its 580 members within the DVSA will be out on strike.

The three-hour strike, set to begin at 8am, comprises both vehicle testing and roadside enforcement staff.

Prospect negotiations officer Helen Stevens told Motortransport.co.uk today that a last-ditch meeting with DVSA on Monday had failed to change anything in the long-running dispute.

This centres around the pay and conditions that will apply as part of the introduction of next generation testing (NGT) and proposals for flexible working more generally.

The strike, which will be accompanied by an indefinite period of work-to-rule, was overwhelmingly supported by Prospect members in a ballot concluded earlier this month.

Stevens said that in the meeting on Monday, DVSA managers were “not serious about trying to resolve the dispute”, adding that the agency had been “resorting to pretty underhanded, bullying tactics on their staff to try and persuade them not to take part in the action”.

She also said the union was “very worried” about the agency’s apparent plan to get roadside enforcement staff to cover vehicle testing. “We think that puts road safety at risk and it’s something we will be taking up with the DVSA,” she said.

A spokesman for the DVSA appeared to confirm the plan, stating: “We’ve put in place arrangements to minimise any disruption and that will involve testing being covered by other staff.”

Earlier this month, the DVSA confirmed it had 440 regular vehicle testing staff and 174 roadside enforcement staff who were also qualified to undertake HGV testing.

Stephen Smith, president of the ATF Operators Association, said some of his members were “really worried” about tomorrow’s strike.

“We’re the ones who are going to bear the brunt of it and there’s absolutely nothing we can do,” he said. “We’ve got no involvement in the negotiations but we are bearing the brunt financially of this whole scheme and of the customer reaction on Friday morning, if there is no testing.”

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